122-456: Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg ( French: [ʒɑ̃ klod kamij fʁɑ̃swa vɑ̃ vaʁɑ̃bɛʁɡ] , Flemish: [vɑɱ ˈvaːrə(m)bɛr(ə)x] ; born 18 October 1960), known professionally as Jean-Claude Van Damme ( French: [vɑ̃ dam] , Flemish: [vɑn ˈdɑmə] ), is a Belgian martial artist and actor. Born and raised in Brussels , his father enrolled him in
244-606: A Shotokan karate school at the age of ten, which led Van Damme to hold the rank of 2nd- dan black belt in karate , and compete in several karate and kickboxing competitions. As a teenager, he won the middleweight championship of the European Professional Karate Association in 1979 and the Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title in 1978. With the desire of becoming an actor in Hollywood , he moved to
366-597: A box-office flop . Also that year, Van Damme acted in the war film Legionnaire . Despite a $ 35 million budget, it was not released theatrically in the US, only overseas. In 1999, he starred in Universal Soldier: The Return , (1999), where he returns as Luc Deveraux . The movie did poorly at the box office debuting at #4. That year he also starred in Inferno (1999). Released in 2001, Replicant
488-411: A Belgian-French drama film starring Marie-Christine Barrault , and Rutger Hauer . In 1980, he caught the attention of Professional Karate Magazine publisher and editor Mike Anderson and multiple European champion Geert Lemmens. Both men tabbed Van Damme as an upcoming prospect. Van Damme retired from competition in 1982. During his early life, he sold flowers in restaurants, and got a loan to open
610-517: A Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title in 1978. At the age of 16, he took up ballet , which he studied for five years. According to Van Damme, ballet "is an art, but it's also one of the most difficult sports. If you can survive a ballet workout, you can survive a workout in any other sport." Later he took up both Taekwondo and Muay Thai . Among his acting heroes growing up were Charles Bronson , Bruce Lee , James Dean , Montgomery Clift , Steve McQueen , Jean-Paul Belmondo , and Sylvester Stallone . At
732-540: A U.S. teenager who learns karate and defends his martial arts dojo against a Soviet martial artist played by Van Damme. Both Vann Damme and McKinney were set to also star in No Retreat, No Surrender 2 , but backed out. He worked for director John McTiernan for the film Predator (1987) as an early (eventually abandoned) version of the titular alien, before being removed and replaced by Kevin Peter Hall . As
854-617: A black belt, but an Oscar." Also in 2008, he starred in Isaac Florentine 's The Shepherd: Border Patrol . He then reprised his role as Luc Deveraux alongside Dolph Lundgren in the 2009 film Universal Soldier: Regeneration , directed by John Hyams . The film was released theatrically in the Middle East and Southeast Asia and directly to video in the United States and other parts of the world. Since its release,
976-628: A comeback to fight former boxing Olympic gold-medalist Somluck Kamsing . The fight was a focal point in his ITV reality show Behind Closed Doors . The fight has been repeatedly postponed, with many critics doubting it will occur, especially due to the difficulty of booking the venue. In 2012, he acted in the Russian comedy film named Rzhevsky Versus Napoleon , and U.F.O. He starred in Dragon Eyes , Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning , and Six Bullets . Also that year, he starred as
1098-425: A full range of target areas (including punches and kicks to the face, head, throat, and body) with no padding or protective gloves, but maintains a degree of safety for the participants. Throwing one's partner and performing takedowns are permitted in free sparring, but it is unusual for competition matches to involve extended grappling or ground-wrestling, as Shotokan karateka are encouraged to end an encounter with
1220-413: A gym to save some money before his move to the United States. Aptly titled California Gym , it was opened in 1979 and catered to "karate, dancing, aerobics, bodybuilding – everything". Van Damme adds that "I wrote special training programs for people, and it was a very upbeat atmosphere with music". At its peak, California Gym was making $ 15,000 per month; "when I decided to sell my gym my father thought I
1342-595: A higher level of recognized achievement, such as a different belt color or title. The type of testing used varies from system to system but may include forms or sparring . Various forms and sparring are commonly used in martial art exhibitions and tournaments. Some competitions pit practitioners of different disciplines against each other using a common set of rules, these are referred to as mixed martial arts competitions. Rules for sparring vary between art and organization but can generally be divided into light-contact , medium-contact , and full-contact variants, reflecting
SECTION 10
#17327720814571464-574: A lesser degree, seniority. As with many martial arts, Shotokan uses a system of coloured belts to indicate rank. Most Shotokan schools use the kyū / dan system but have added other belt colours. The order of colours varies widely from school to school, but kyu belts are denoted with colours that in some schools become darker as a student approaches shodan . Dan level belts are invariably black, with some schools using stripes to denote various ranks of black belt. Gichin Funakoshi himself never awarded
1586-584: A limousine driver and private karate instructor. He described his early days in the United States as being particularly difficult – excluding $ 2,000, he had placed all of his money from the sale of his gym into a European bank; thus, he struggled financially. To ensure his own emotional wellbeing, he would go for runs every night in Santa Monica. After that, he would train at the world-renowned Gold's Gym . This routine reportedly helped him survive for many years. He actively participated in casting calls and had
1708-564: A match for the Belgium Lightweight Championship. Van Damme had a 1977 victory over Teugels. Teugels was coming off an impressive showing at the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations World Championships four months earlier, and was favored by some to win this match. According to reports, and Patrick Teugels' own interview (with photos), Teugels lost to Van Damme by TKO in the 1st round. Teugels
1830-421: A more physically imposing actor was needed to make the creature appear threatening against the team of soldiers. The role eventually went to Kevin Peter Hall. After Predator was a success, Van Damme said that he appreciated the movie and that he had no regrets about missing that role. Van Damme's breakout film was Bloodsport , which opened on 26 February 1988, based on the alleged true story of Frank Dux . It
1952-477: A movie and were willing to invest money, but required additional funding. Armed with this, he approached producers and suddenly found that all his phone calls were being answered. Of course, his intention was simply to meet the person and put his name out there, as opposed to securing illegitimate deals. In the 1984 action film Missing in Action starring Norris, which was also released by Cannon Films , Van Damme
2074-498: A much more fluid style that incorporates grappling, throwing and some standing joint locking techniques, which can be found even in basic kata. Kumite (fighting) techniques are practiced in the kihon and kata and developed from basic to advanced levels with an opponent. Gichin Funakoshi laid out the Twenty Precepts of Karate (or Niju kun ), which form the foundations of the art, before some of his students established
2196-590: A name, just calling it karate . Shotokan training is usually divided into three parts: kihon (basics), kata (forms or patterns of moves), and kumite (sparring). Techniques in kihon and kata are characterised by deep, long stances that provide stability, enable powerful movements, and strengthen the legs. Shotokan is regarded as a dynamic martial art as it develops anaerobic, powerful techniques as well as developing speed. Initially strength and power are demonstrated instead of slower, more flowing motions. Those who progress to brown and black belt level develop
2318-564: A rank higher than Godan (5th dan black belt). Kihon basics is the practice of basic techniques in Shotokan Karate. It includes stances, blocks, punches, kicks, various displacements and their combinations, as well as the practice of Kihon Kata like: Taikyoku Shodan, which was developed by Yoshitaka Funakoshi, the son of Gichin Funakoshi, as a basic introduction to karate kata. (Yoshitaka also developed Taikyoku Nidan and Sandan.) This first kata consists of successive restatements following
2440-415: A similar method of compliant training that is equivalent to light or medium contact. In some styles (such as fencing and some styles of taekwondo sparring), competitors score points based on the landing of a single technique or strike as judged by the referee, whereupon the referee will briefly stop the match, award a point, then restart the match. Alternatively, sparring may continue with the point noted by
2562-431: A single attack ( ippon ), avoiding extended periods of conflict, or unnecessary contact in situations where there may be more than one attacker. Kaishu ippon kumite is an additional sparring exercise that is usually introduced for higher grades. This starts in a similar manner to freestyle one-step sparring; the attacker names the attack he/she will execute, attacks with that technique, and the defender blocks and counters
SECTION 20
#17327720814572684-640: A small role in The Exam , a Turkish comedy-drama film directed by Ömer Faruk Sorak . Also that year he starred in Until Death . Van Damme returned to the mainstream with the limited theatrical release of the 2008 film JCVD , which received positive reviews. Time Magazine named his performance in the film the second best of the year (after Heath Ledger 's The Joker in The Dark Knight ), having previously stated that Van Damme "deserves not
2806-511: A specific routine. On Wednesdays, he would purchase the Drama-Logue magazine; then Thursday mornings, he would send out his picture and resume in response to advertisements. He was willing to try anything to achieve success, even going so far as to fabricate a story. He would call movie studios and claim to be an actor from Brussels with an investor from Hong Kong. He also instructed a friend to play along and act as if they wanted him to star in
2928-462: A total of $ 30,102,717 in the US. Retrospective critics perceive it to be a fun action film, with good comical moments, and a good performance by Van Damme who plays two distinct characters. In 1992, he starred in one of the biggest blockbusters of the year in the sci-fi action picture, Universal Soldier , directed by Roland Emmerich for Carolco . Van Damme (as Luc Deveraux ) and Dolph Lundgren (as Sergeant Andrew Scott) play U.S. soldiers during
3050-1037: A traditional system of athletics originally used to train warriors in Iran ( Persia ), and first appearing under this name and form in the Safavid era, with similarities to systems in adjacent lands under other names. Human warfare dates back to the Epipalaeolithic to early Neolithic era. The oldest works of art depicting scenes of battle are cave paintings from eastern Spain ( Spanish Levante ) dated between 10,000 and 6,000 BCE that show organized groups fighting with bows and arrows. Similar evidence of warfare has been found in Epipalaeolithic to early Neolithic era mass burials , excavated in Germany and at Jebel Sahaba in Northern Sudan . Wrestling
3172-473: A variety of jobs to support themselves. Their first job working on a film as extras in the hip hop dance film Breakin' (1984), made by Cannon Films ; they are seen dancing in the background at a dance demonstration. Around that time he developed a friendship with action martial art film star Chuck Norris . They started sparring together, and Van Damme started to work as a bouncer at a bar named Woody's Wharf, owned by Norris. He also supplemented his income as
3294-486: A wide spectrum of melee weapons, including bladed weapons and polearms . Such traditions include eskrima , silat , kalaripayat , kobudo , and historical European martial arts , especially those of the Italian Renaissance . Many Chinese martial arts also feature weapons as part of their curriculum. Sometimes, training with one specific weapon may be considered a style in its own right, especially in
3416-443: Is Flemish (Dutch-speaking). Van Damme was brought up Roman Catholic. His paternal grandmother was Jewish . He began martial arts at the age of ten, enrolled by his father in a Shōtōkan karate school. His styles consist of Shōtōkan Karate and Kickboxing . He eventually earned his black belt in karate at 18, and earned the rank of 2nd- dan black belt . He started lifting weights to improve his physique, which eventually led to
3538-462: Is a performance or a demonstration, with every technique potentially a killing blow ( ikken hisatsu )—while paying particular attention to form and timing (rhythm). As the karateka grows older, more emphasis is placed on the health benefits of practicing kata , promoting fitness while keeping the body soft, supple, and agile. Several Shotokan groups have introduced "kata" (form) from other styles into their training. The original Shotokan kata syllabus
3660-543: Is a style of karate , developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi (1868–1957) and his son Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi (1906–1945). Gichin Funakoshi was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing "karate do" through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including those at Keio , Waseda , Hitotsubashi (Shodai) , Takushoku , Chuo , Gakushuin , and Hosei . Funakoshi had many students at
3782-439: Is activated. Beyond contributing to physical fitness, martial arts training also has benefits for mental health , contributing to self-esteem , self-control , emotional and spiritual well-being. For this reason, a number of martial arts schools have focused purely on therapeutic aspects, de-emphasizing the historical aspect of self-defense or combat completely. Sh%C5%8Dt%C5%8Dkan Shotokan ( 松涛館 , Shōtōkan )
Jean-Claude Van Damme - Misplaced Pages Continue
3904-465: Is credited in the stunt team crew. That same year he also had a role in the comedy short film Monaco Forever . Corey Yuen 's martial arts film No Retreat, No Surrender , which premiered On 2 May 1986 in Los Angeles , was his first sizeable role when he was cast as the Russian villain. It starred Kurt McKinney , and was released through New World Pictures . McKinney stars as Jason Stillwell,
4026-647: Is freestyle one-step sparring ( jiyu ippon kumite ). This type of kumite , and its successor—free sparring, have been documented extensively by Nakayama and are expanded upon by the JKA instructor trainee program, for those clubs under the JKA. Freestyle one-step sparring is similar to one-step sparring but requires the karateka to be in motion. Practicing one-step sparring improves free sparring ( jiyu kumite ) skills, and also provides an opportunity for practicing major counter-attacks (as opposed to minor counter-attacks). Tsutomu Ohshima states that freestyle one-step sparring
4148-541: Is introduced in Funakoshi's book Karate-do Kyohan , which is the master text of Shotokan karate. Japan Shotokai's kata syllabus is the same as established in "Karate-do Kyohan" with the addition of Gigo Funakoshi's staff kata Matsukaze No Kon. When the JKA was formed, Nakayama laid down 27 kata (26 mainly practised throughout most organisations) as the kata syllabus for this organisation. The standard JKA kata are: Taikyoku shodan (sometimes termed Kata Kihon or Kihon Kata,
4270-532: Is likely facilitated by cultural exchanges of early Chinese and Indian martial arts . During the Warring States period of Chinese history (480–221 BC) extensive development in martial philosophy and strategy emerged, as described by Sun Tzu in The Art of War ( c. 350 BC ). Legendary accounts link the origin of Shaolinquan to the spread of Buddhism from ancient India during
4392-488: Is no single "Shotokan school", although they all bear Funakoshi's influence. As the most widely practiced style, Shotokan is considered a traditional and influential form of karate do. Shotokan was the name of the first official dojo built by Gichin Funakoshi, in 1936 at Mejiro , and destroyed in 1945 as a result of the Tokyo air raids . Shoto ( 松涛 , Shōtō ) , meaning "pine-waves" (the movement of pine needles when
4514-452: Is still actively performed in tournaments across the world. Practitioners in some arts such as kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu often train for sport matches, whereas those in other arts such as aikido generally spurn such competitions. Some schools believe that competition breeds better and more efficient practitioners, and gives a sense of good sportsmanship. Others believe that the rules under which competition takes place have diminished
4636-589: Is the most realistic practice in Shotokan Karate, and that it is more realistic than free sparring. Free sparring (or free style) ( jiyu kumite ) is the last element of sparring learned. In this exercise, two training partners are free to use any karate technique or combination of attacks, and the defender at any given moment is free to avoid, block, counter, or attack with any karate technique. Training partners are encouraged to make controlled and focused contact with their opponent, but to withdraw their attack as soon as surface contact has been made. This allows attacking
4758-564: Is the oldest combat sport , with origins in hand-to-hand combat . Belt wrestling was depicted in works of art from Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt c. 3000 BC , and later in the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh . The earliest known depiction of boxing comes from a Sumerian relief in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) from the 3rd millennium BC. The foundation of modern East Asian martial arts and South Asian martial arts
4880-503: Is the practical application of kihon and kata to real opponents. The formalities of kumite in Shotokan karate were first instituted by Masatoshi Nakayama wherein basic, intermediate, and advanced sparring techniques and rules were formalised. Shotokan practitioners first learn how to apply the techniques taught in kata to hypothetical opponents by way of kata bunkai . Kata bunkai then matures into controlled kumite . Kumite
5002-732: Is the second collaboration between Van Damme and director Ringo Lam , and the fifth time that Van Damme has starred in a dual role . It co-stars Michael Rooker . Also that year he starred in The Order , directed by Sheldon Lettich , and written by Van Damme. In 2002, he starred in Derailed . In Hell is a 2003 American prison action film directed by Ringo Lam . It is the third collaboration between Van Damme and Lam. Van Damme plays an American working overseas in Magnitogorsk , Russia. That same year, he employed his dancing training in
Jean-Claude Van Damme - Misplaced Pages Continue
5124-455: Is the third part of the Shotokan triumvirate of kihon, kata and kumite . Kumite is taught in ever increasing complexity from beginner through low grade blackbelt (1st – 2nd) to intermediate (3rd – 4th) and advanced (5th onwards) level practitioners. Beginners first learn kumite through basic drills, of one, three or five attacks to the head ( jodan ) or body ( chudan ) with the defender stepping backwards whilst blocking and only countering on
5246-482: Is the value of "inner peace" in a practitioner, which is stressed to be only achievable through individual meditation and training. The Koreans believe that the use of physical force is only justifiable for self defense. Pahlevani and zourkhaneh rituals is the name of a Persian Martial arts inscribed by UNESCO for varzesh-e pahlavāni ( Persian : آیین پهلوانی و زورخانهای , "heroic sport") or varzesh-e bāstāni ( ورزش باستانی ; varzeš-e bāstānī , "ancient sport"),
5368-570: The Ancient Olympic Games . The Romans produced gladiatorial combat as a public spectacle. A number of historical combat manuals have survived from the European Middle Ages . This includes such styles as sword and shield , two-handed swordfighting and other types of melee weapons besides unarmed combat. Amongst these are transcriptions of Johannes Liechtenauer 's mnemonic poem on the longsword dating back to
5490-537: The Japan Karate Association (JKA). Within these twenty principles, based heavily on bushido and Zen , lies the philosophy of Shotokan. The principles allude to notions of humility, respect, compassion, patience, and both an inward and outward calmness. It was Funakoshi's belief that through karate practice and observation of these 20 principles, the karateka would improve their person. The dōjō kun lists five philosophical rules for training in
5612-668: The Joseon era and texts such as Muyejebo (1598). European swordsmanship always had a sportive component, but the duel was always a possibility until World War I . Modern sport fencing began developing during the 19th century as the French and Italian military academies began codifying instruction. The Olympic games led to standard international rules, with the Féderation Internationale d'Escrime founded in 1913. Modern boxing originates with Jack Broughton 's rules in
5734-572: The Kuomintang government. Western interest in Asian martial arts arises towards the end of the 19th century, due to the increase in trade between the United States with China and Japan. Relatively few Westerners actually practiced the arts, considering it to be mere performance. Edward William Barton-Wright , a railway engineer who had studied jujutsu while working in Japan between 1894 and 1897,
5856-642: The Lonsdale Belt , introduced in 1909. The International Boxing Association was established in 1920. World Fencing Championships have been held since 1921. As Western influence grew in Asia a greater number of military personnel spent time in China, Japan and South Korea during World War II and the Korean War and were exposed to local fighting styles. Jujutsu, judo and karate first became popular among
5978-687: The Meiji Restoration In 1882, Kano Jigoro established the Kodokan School of judo which began the sport of judo. Kano Jigoro had gathered the old knowledge of jujutsu before establishing his school of judo. Modern Muay Thai rules date to the 1920s. In China, the modern history of martial arts begins in the Nanjing decade (1930s) following the foundation of the Central Guoshu Institute in 1928 under
6100-536: The Pittsburgh Civic Arena , where a gang of terrorists are holding U.S. Vice President and several other VIPs hostage in a luxury suite during a game. The movie was a modest success. In 1996, he starred and directed The Quest . The film, though it under-performed domestically, did better internationally at the box-office and was a commercial success. That year, he appeared in the TV show Friends in
6222-647: The UFC 1 , there was no scoring, though most now use some form of judging as a backup. Due to these factors, full-contact matches tend to be more aggressive in character, but rule sets may still mandate the use of protective equipment, or limit the techniques allowed. Nearly all mixed martial arts organizations such as UFC , Pancrase , Shooto use a form of full-contact rules as do professional boxing organizations and K-1 . Kyokushin karate requires advanced practitioners to engage in bare-knuckled, full-contact sparring allowing kicks, knees and punching although punching to
SECTION 50
#17327720814576344-526: The Vietnam War who end up shooting each other dead after Devereaux discovers that Scott has gone insane and resorted to mutilating civilians . They are later reanimated in a secret Army project along with a large group of other previously dead soldiers and sent on a mission. At the 1992 Cannes Film Festival , Van Damme and Lundgren were involved in a verbal altercation that almost turned physical when both men pushed each other only to be separated, but it
6466-442: The splits while perched with each of his feet on the outer rearview mirrors of one semi-trailer truck and one box truck moving backwards, which he describes in the commercial as "the most epic of splits". The video quickly went viral around the web, receiving more than 11 million views in three days, 35 million in the first week. It was dubbed as The Epic Split . Swelter is a 2014 American action film where he plays one of
6588-574: The 18th century, and reaches its present form with the Marquess of Queensberry Rules of 1867. Certain traditional combat sports and fighting styles exist all over the world, rooted in local culture and folklore. The most common of these are styles of folk wrestling , some of which have been practiced since antiquity and are found in the most remote areas. Other examples include forms of stick fighting and boxing. While these arts are based on historical traditions of folklore, they are not "historical" in
6710-694: The 1970s, and the term Chinese boxing was also used to refer to Chinese martial arts until then. Some authors have argued that fighting arts or fighting systems would be more appropriate terms on the basis that many martial arts were never "martial" in the sense of being used or created by professional warriors . Martial arts may be categorized using a variety of criteria, including: Unarmed martial arts can be broadly grouped into those focusing on strikes , those focusing on grappling , and those that cover both fields, often described as hybrid martial arts . Strikes Grappling The traditional martial arts that cover armed combat often encompass
6832-509: The 1970s, especially Bruce Lee films , popularized martial arts in global popular culture . A number of mainstream films produced during the 1980s also contributed significantly to the perception of martial arts in Western popular culture. These include The Karate Kid (1984) and Bloodsport (1988). This era produced some Hollywood action stars with martial arts background, such as Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris . Also during
6954-647: The 20th century, a number of martial arts were adapted for self-defense purposes for military hand-to-hand combat . World War II combatives , KAPAP (1930s) and Krav Maga (1950s) in Israel, Systema in Soviet-era Russia, and Sanshou in the People's Republic of China are examples of such systems. The US military de-emphasized hand-to-hand combat training during the Cold War period , but revived it with
7076-644: The Czech dance odzemek , and the Norwegian Halling . The mid to late 19th century marks the beginning of the history of martial arts as modern sports developed out of earlier traditional fighting systems. In Europe, this concerns the developments of boxing , wrestling and fencing as sports. In Japan, the same period marks the formation of the modern forms of judo , jujutsu , karate , and kendo (among others) based on revivals of old schools of Edo period martial arts which had been suppressed during
7198-537: The Okinawan culture and Funakoshi's philosophies. However, many schools of JKA (Japan Karate Association) affiliated with Shotokan Karate used the full terminology on a daily basis, providing translations also. For example, the KUI (Karate Union of Ireland), utilises the full and proper Japanese name for each move and kata in training, grading and competition. Rank is used in karate to indicate experience, expertise, and to
7320-571: The Okinawan kata names easier to pronounce in the Japanese Honshū dialect. In 1924, Funakoshi adopted the Kyū / Dan rank system and the uniform ( keikogi ) developed by Kano Jigoro , the founder of judo . This system uses colored belts ( obi ) to indicate rank. Originally, karate had only three belt colors: white, brown, and black (with ranks within each). The original belt system, still used by many Shotokan schools, is: Funakoshi awarded
7442-525: The USA inspired by the Brazilian Vale tudo tradition and along with other minimal rule competitions, most notably those from Japan such as Shooto and Pancrase , have evolved into the combat sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Some martial artists compete in non-sparring competitions such as breaking or choreographed routines of techniques such as poomse , kata and aka , or modern variations of
SECTION 60
#17327720814577564-623: The United States in 1982, where he worked on several films, until he got his break as the lead in the martial arts film Bloodsport (1988). He became a popular action film star and followed up with commercially successful films such as Cyborg , Kickboxer (both 1989), Lionheart , Death Warrant (both 1990), Double Impact (1991), Universal Soldier (1992), Nowhere to Run , Hard Target (both 1993), Timecop , Street Fighter (both 1994), Sudden Death (1995), The Quest , which marked his directorial debut , and Maximum Risk (both 1996). He achieved sex symbol status in
7686-598: The age of 12, Van Damme joined the Centre National de Karaté (National Center of Karate) under the guidance of Claude Goetz in Belgium. Van Damme trained for four years and he earned a spot on the Belgian Karate Team; he later trained in full-contact karate and kickboxing with Dominique Valera. According to Van Damme, "it was tough growing up. I was kind of geeky, and physically I was not gifted". At
7808-730: The age of 15, he started his competitive karate career in Belgium. From 1976 to 1980, he compiled a record of 44 victories and four defeats in tournament and non-tournament semi-contact matches. He was a member of the Belgium Karate Team when it won the European Karate Championship on 26 December 1979 at La Coupe François Persoons Karate Tournament in Brussels. He placed second at the Challenge Coupe des Espoirs Karate Tournament (1st Trials). At
7930-406: The amount of force that should be used on an opponent. These types of sparring restrict the amount of force that may be used to hit an opponent, in the case of light sparring this is usually to 'touch' contact, e.g. a punch should be 'pulled' as soon as or before contact is made. In medium-contact (sometimes referred to as semi-contact) the punch would not be 'pulled' but not hit with full force. As
8052-522: The amount of force used is restricted, the aim of these types of sparring is not to knock out an opponent; a point system is used in competitions. A referee acts to monitor for fouls and to control the match, while judges mark down scores, as in boxing. Particular targets may be prohibited, certain techniques may be forbidden (such as headbutting or groin hits), and fighters may be required to wear protective equipment on their head, hands, chest, groin, shins or feet. Some grappling arts, such as aikido, use
8174-504: The art in secret, or by telling the colonial authorities that it was a form of dance. While many regional Indian martial arts forms are fading into obscurity, martial arts such as Gatka and Kalaripayattu are experiencing a gradual resurgence. Testing or evaluation is important to martial artists of many disciplines who wish to determine their progression or own level of skill in specific contexts. Students often undergo periodic testing and grading by their own teacher in order to advance to
8296-675: The attack. Unlike freestyle one-step sparring, however, the attacker may then be required to block the defender's counter-attack and strike back. This exercise is often considered more difficult than either freestyle one-step sparring or free sparring, as the defender typically cannot escape to a safe distance in time to avoid the counter to the counter-attack. Kumite within the dojo often differs from competition kumite . In dojo kumite any and all techniques, within reason, are valid; punches, knife hand strikes, headbutt, locks, takedowns, kicks, etc. In competition certain regulations apply, certain techniques are valid, and certain target areas, such as
8418-515: The case of Japanese martial arts , with disciplines such as kenjutsu and kendo (sword), bojutsu (staff), and kyūdō (archery). Similarly, modern martial arts and sports include modern fencing , stick-fighting systems like canne de combat , modern competitive archery and practical shooting . Traditional Korean martial arts place emphasis on the development of the practitioner's spiritual and philosophical being. A common theme in most Korean styles, such as Taekkyon , taekwondo , and Hapkido
8540-610: The colonial authorities during the period of British rule in India , which led to a decline in their popularity. Some, such as Kalaripayattu , were able to resist this decline by practicing in secret. Other Indian martial art, such as Silambam , while not widely practiced in India, continue to be practiced in other countries in the Indian cultural sphere such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Many other Indian martial arts such as Mardhani Khel and Paika Akhada survived by practitioners practicing
8662-478: The combat effectiveness of martial arts or encourage a kind of practice which focuses on winning trophies rather than a focus such as cultivating a particular moral character. The question of "which is the best martial art" has led to inter style competitions fought with very few rules allowing a variety of fighting styles to enter with few limitations. This was the origin of the first Ultimate Fighting Championship tournament (later renamed UFC 1: The Beginning ) in
8784-499: The defender to execute a counter-attack faster than in the earlier types of sparring. Counter-attacks may be almost anything, including strikes, grapples, and take-down manoeuvres. Some schools prescribe the defences, most notably the Kase-ha Shotokan-ryū, which uses an eight step, three directional blocking and attacking pattern, which develops from yellow belt level through to advanced level. The next level of kumite
8906-522: The dojo: seek perfection of character, be faithful, endeavor to excel, respect others, and refrain from violent behaviour. These rules are called the Five Maxims of Karate. The dōjō kun is usually posted on a wall in the dojo, and some shotokan clubs recite the dōjō kun at the beginning and/or end of each class to provide motivation and a context for further training. Funakoshi also wrote: "The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in
9028-597: The early 5th century CE , with the figure of Bodhidharma , to China. Written evidence of martial arts in Southern India dates back to the Sangam literature of about the 2nd century BCE to the 2nd century AD. The combat techniques of the Sangam period were the earliest precursors to Kalaripayattu In Europe, the earliest sources of martial arts traditions date to Ancient Greece . Boxing ( pygme , pyx ), wrestling ( pale ) and pankration were represented in
9150-424: The film has received mostly positive reviews, with praise towards the performances and surprisingly high production values. In 2010, he directed himself in the barely released Full Love . That same year, he turned down the role of Gunner Jensen in the first instalment of The Expendables and the role went to Dolph Lundgren . In 2011, he voiced Master Croc in the computer animation film Kung Fu Panda 2 . In
9272-459: The film was "the first movie to demonstrate that Van Damme was more than just a flash-in-the-pan "Karate Guy" who would never rise above simplistic low-budget karate movies." It also featured rear nudity from Van Damme which Lettich says "became a very memorable moment for the ladies in the audience, and for the gay guys as well. Showing off his butt (clothed or unclothed) almost became a signature trademark of his after that." In 1991, Double Impact
9394-498: The film, he voices a character who helps the heroes of the previous film. That same year, he co-starred with Scott Adkins in Assassination Games . Also in 2011, he played a role in the French comedy Beur sur la ville . Also that year, he starred in his own reality TV show Behind Closed Doors . The show showcases his family life, his personal troubles, and an upcoming fight. Since 2009, he has been planning to make
9516-408: The film. Also that year, he was seen as part of Kam Sing's ring crew when Kam Sing fought against Jomhod Kiatadisak . He also appeared in commercials for Coors Light beer, showing him on a snow-covered mountain wearing a sleeveless denim jacket, and for the washing powder Dash. On 21 October 2012, he was honored with a life-size statue of himself in his hometown of Brussels . He told reporters during
9638-524: The first American film from director John Woo . Also released that year, he starred in Timecop , playing a time-traveling cop. Directed by Peter Hyams , the film was a huge success, grossing over $ 100 million worldwide, and remains his highest-grossing film in a lead role to date. Also that year, he starred in Street Fighter , written and directed by Steven E. de Souza for Universal and based on
9760-440: The first choice to play the titular Predator character, with the intent that he would use his martial arts skills to make the alien an agile, ninja -like hunter, but after few days shot, he left the film. It was reported that he constantly complained about the monster suit being too hot and causing him to pass out; he allegedly also voiced reservations about only appearing on camera in the suit. Additionally, it became apparent that
9882-573: The forefront for promoting Chinese martial arts in the Western world since the late 20th and early 21st centuries. With the continual discovery of more medieval and Renaissance fighting manuals, the practice of Historical European Martial Arts and other Western Martial Arts have been growing in popularity across the United States and Europe. On 29 November 2011, UNESCO inscribed Taekkyon onto its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List. Many styles of Indian martial arts were banned by
10004-440: The head is disallowed while wearing only a karate gi , mouthguard , groin guard for males , or chest guard worn under the karate gi for females . Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo matches do not allow striking, but are full-contact in the sense that full force is applied in the permitted grappling and submission techniques. Competitions held by World Taekwondo requires the use of Headgear and padded vest, but are full contact in
10126-481: The introduction of LINE in 1989. In 1993, the first Pancrase event was held in Japan. The K-1 rules of kickboxing were introduced, based on 1980s Seidokaikan karate. During the 1990s, Brazilian jiu-jitsu became popular and proved to be effective in mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions such as the UFC and PRIDE . Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee were prominent martial artists who became major movie figures. Their popularity and media presence has been at
10248-400: The joints or throat, are forbidden. The purpose of competition is to score points through the application of kumite principles while creating an exciting and competitive atmosphere, whereas the purpose of training kumite in the dojo is to be prepared to kill or cripple an opponent in a realistic situation. Gichin Funakoshi had trained in both of the popular styles of Okinawan karate of
10370-463: The judges. Some critics of point sparring feel that this method of training teaches habits that result in lower combat effectiveness. Lighter-contact sparring may be used exclusively, for children or in other situations when heavy contact would be inappropriate (such as beginners), medium-contact sparring is often used as training for full contact. Full-contact sparring or competition, where strikes or techniques are not pulled but used with full force as
10492-432: The last defence. These drills use basic ( kihon ) techniques and develop a sense of timing and distance in defence against a known attack. At around purple belt level karateka learn one-step sparring ( ippon kumite ). Though there is only one step involved, rather than three or five, this exercise is more advanced because it involves a greater variety of attacks and blocks usually the defenders own choice. It also requires
10614-495: The late 1980s and early 1990s. Between 1993 and 1998, three Hong Kong filmmakers collaborated with Van Damme for their debuts in Western cinema: John Woo , Tsui Hark , and Ringo Lam . After a decline in popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he returned to prominence with the critically acclaimed crime drama JCVD (2008). His big return to the action genre was in The Expendables 2 (2012), in which he starred as
10736-577: The late fourteenth century. Likewise, Asian martial arts became well-documented during the medieval period, Japanese martial arts beginning with the establishment of the samurai nobility in the 12th century, Chinese martial arts with Ming era treatises such as Ji Xiao Xin Shu , Indian martial arts in medieval texts such as the Agni Purana and the Malla Purana , and Korean martial arts from
10858-565: The leads. It stars Lennie James , and co-stars Grant Bowler , Josh Henderson , and Alfred Molina . James plays a sheriff in a small town who has a dark past that he can not remember, only to have to confront it when his ex-partners show up looking for stolen money they believe he has. Martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence ; military and law enforcement applications; competition ; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment ; and
10980-438: The main villain in The Expendables 2 . The film series follows a mercenary group as they undertake a mission which evolves into a quest for revenge against a rival mercenary (Van Damme). The film was a success, grossing over $ 310 million worldwide, and was his big return to the action genre. Empire ' s Nick de Semlyen praised Van Damme's "grandstanding, plutonium-crazed baddie" and Lundgren's "action-troll" as high points in
11102-490: The mainstream from the 1950s–1960s. Due in part to Asian and Hollywood martial arts movies , most modern American martial arts are either Asian-derived or Asian influenced. The term kickboxing (キックボクシング) was created by the Japanese boxing promoter Osamu Noguchi for a variant of muay Thai and karate that he created in the 1950s. American kickboxing was developed in the 1970s, as a combination of boxing and karate. Taekwondo
11224-498: The martial arts which include dance-influenced competitions such as tricking. Martial traditions have been influenced by governments to become more sport-like for political purposes; the central impetus for the attempt by the People's Republic of China in transforming Chinese martial arts into the committee-regulated sport of wushu was suppressing what they saw as the potentially subversive aspects of martial training, especially under
11346-516: The most successful action stars of all time. Outside his film career, Van Damme has publicly supported various conservationist causes and animal rights organisations. Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg, on 18 October 1960, in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe , Brussels , Belgium, the son of Eliana and Eugène Van Varenberg, who was an accountant and florist . His father is from Brussels and bilingual, and his mother
11468-665: The music video for Bob Sinclar 's "Kiss My Eyes". His 2004 film was Wake of Death , an action film directed by Philippe Martinez . Ringo Lam was the original director, but he left the project after a few weeks of filming in Canada. It co-stars Simon Yam , Valerie Tian, Tony Schiena , etc. In 2005, he played himself in the French film Narco . In 2006, he starred in Second in Command directed by Simon Fellows, and The Hard Corps directed by Sheldon Lettich. In 2007, he played
11590-667: The name has been discontinued in some Shotokan dojos) (太極初段), Heian shodan (平安初段), Heian nidan (平安二段), Heian sandan (平安三段), Heian yondan (平安四段), Heian godan (平安五段), Bassai dai (披塞大), Jion (慈恩), Enpi (燕飛), Kanku dai (観空大), Hangetsu (半月), Jitte (十手), Gankaku (岩鶴), Tekki shodan (鉄騎初段), Tekki nidan (鉄騎二段), Tekki sandan (鉄騎三段), Nijūshiho (二十四步), Chinte (珍手), Sōchin (壯鎭), Meikyō/Rōhai (明鏡), Unsu (雲手), Bassai shō (披塞小), Kankū shō (観空小), Wankan (王冠), Gojūshiho shō (五十四歩小), Gojūshiho dai (五十四歩大), and Ji'in (慈陰). Kumite , or sparring (lit. Meeting of hands),
11712-456: The name implies, has a number of tactical differences from light and medium-contact sparring. It is considered by some to be requisite in learning realistic unarmed combat. In full-contact sparring, the aim of a competitive match is to knock out the opponent or to force the opponent to submit . Where scoring takes place it may be a subsidiary measure, only used if no clear winner has been established by other means; in some competitions, such as
11834-406: The perfection of the character of the participant." Many terms used in karate stem from Japanese culture. While many are names (e.g. Heian , Gankaku ), others are exclusive to martial arts (e.g. kata , kumite ). Many terms are seldom used in daily life, such as zenkutsu dachi , while others appear routinely, such as rei . The Japanese form is often retained in schools outside Japan to preserve
11956-567: The preservation of a nation's intangible cultural heritage . "Martial arts" is a direct English translation of the Sino-Japanese word ( Japanese : 武芸 , romanized : bu-gei , Chinese : 武藝 ; Pe̍h-ōe-jī : bú-gē ; pinyin : wǔyì ). Literally, it refers to "武 martial" and "艺 arts". The term martial arts was popularized by mainstream popular culture during the 1960s to 1970s, notably by Hong Kong martial arts films (most famously those of Bruce Lee ) during
12078-504: The sense that full force is applied to strikes to the head and body, and win by knockout is possible. Martial arts have crossed over into sports when forms of sparring become competitive, becoming a sport in its own right that is dissociated from the original combative origin, such as with western fencing. The Summer Olympic Games includes judo, taekwondo, western archery, boxing, javelin, wrestling and fencing as events, while Chinese wushu recently failed in its bid to be included, but
12200-763: The sense that they reconstruct or preserve a historical system from a specific era. They are rather contemporary regional sports that coexist with the modern forms of martial arts sports as they have developed since the 19th century, often including cross-fertilization between sports and folk styles; thus, the traditional Thai art of muay boran developed into the modern national sport of muay Thai , which in turn came to be practiced worldwide and contributed significantly to modern hybrid styles like kickboxing and mixed martial arts . Singlestick , an English martial art can be seen often used in morris dancing . Many European dances share elements of martial arts with examples including Ukrainian Hopak , Polish Zbójnicki (use of ciupaga ),
12322-508: The so-called " chopsocky " wave of the early 1970s. According to John Clements, the term martial arts itself is derived from an older Latin term meaning "arts of Mars ", the Roman god of war, and was used to refer to the combat systems of Europe ( European martial arts ) as early as the 1550s. The term martial science , or martial sciences , was commonly used to refer to the fighting arts of East Asia ( Asian martial arts ) up until
12444-521: The success of Bloodsport , Cannon Films offered him the lead in Delta Force 2 , American Ninja 3 or Cyborg , a cyberpunk martial arts film directed by Albert Pyun . He chose Cyborg which premiered in 1989. The film was a low budget box office success and led to two sequels, neither of which Van Damme appeared in. Cannon used Van Damme again in Kickboxer released that same year. It
12566-437: The theme of gedan barai — oi tsuki , and performing three oi tsuki by following the known "H" pattern or Embusen . Kata is often described as a set sequence of karate moves organised into a pre-arranged fight against imaginary opponents. The kata consists of kicks, punches, sweeps, strikes and blocks. Body movement in various kata includes stepping, twisting, turning, dropping to the ground, and jumping. In Shotokan, kata
12688-693: The three-day tournament, he defeated 25 opponents before losing in the finals to teammate Angelo Spataro. On 8 March 1980, in Brussels, Belgium, he competed against his former teammate Patrick Teugels at the Forest National Arena on the undercard of the Dan Macaruso-Dominique Valera Professional Karate Association Light-Heavyweight World Championship bout. Prior to this match, Teugels had defeated Van Damme twice by decision, including
12810-477: The time: Shōrei-ryū and Shōrin-ryū . After years of study in both styles, Funakoshi created a simpler system that combined the ideals of the two. He never named this system, however, always referring to it simply as "karate." Funakoshi's karate reflects the changes made in the art by Ankō Itosu , including the Heian/Pinan kata series. Funakoshi changed the names of some of the kata in an effort to make
12932-406: The traditional system of family lineages. Martial arts training aims to result in several benefits to trainees, such as their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Through systematic practice in the martial arts a person's physical fitness may be boosted (strength, stamina, speed, flexibility, movement coordination, etc.) as the whole body is exercised and the entire muscular system
13054-551: The two-part episode " The One After the Superbowl ". He also starred in Maximum Risk , the first American film directed by Ringo Lam , and their first collaboration. The film was mildly successful at the box office. He followed up with Double Team (1997), a sci fi action film with basketball superstar Dennis Rodman . It was Hong Kong director Tsui Hark 's American debut. In 1998, he and Hark reunited on Knock Off ,
13176-525: The university clubs and outside dojos , who continued to teach karate after his death in 1957. However, internal disagreements (in particular the notion that competition is contrary to the essence of karate) led to the creation of different organisations—including an initial split between the Japan Karate Association (headed by Masatoshi Nakayama ) and the Shotokai (headed by Motonobu Hironishi and Shigeru Egami ), followed by many others—so that today there
13298-661: The unveiling, "Belgium is paying me back something, but really it's to pay back to the dream. So when people come by here, it is not Jean-Claude van Damme but it's a guy from the street who believed in something. I want the statue to represent that". In 2013, he acted in the comedy Welcome to the Jungle . Also that year , he played the main villain in Enemies Closer , an American action thriller film directed by Peter Hyams . On 13 November 2013, Volvo Trucks released an advertisement on YouTube that shows Van Damme doing
13420-554: The video game. It was poorly received critically. Though a commercial success, making approximately three times its production cost. Van Damme and Hyams re-teamed for Universal's Sudden Death , released in 1995. Van Damme portrays a French Canadian -born firefighter with the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau who suffered a personal crisis after he was unable to save a young girl from a house fire. Now removed from active duty, he has become demoted to being fire marshal for
13542-609: The villain, opposite Sylvester Stallone 's character. From thereon, he continued starring in action films and doing extensive voice work, appearing in the well-received Enemies Closer (2013), The Bouncer , Kickboxer: Retaliation (both 2018), Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022), and Darkness of Man (2024). In television, he starred in the Ridley Scott -produced Jean-Claude Van Johnson (2016-2017). Regarded as an icon of action and martial arts cinema, his films have grossed over $ 1 billion worldwide, making him one of
13664-400: The wind blows through them), was Funakoshi's pen-name, which he used in his poetic and philosophical writings and messages to his students. The Japanese kan ( 館 , kan ) means "house" or "hall". In honour of their sensei, Funakoshi's students created a sign reading shōtō-kan , which they placed above the entrance of the hall where Funakoshi taught. Gichin Funakoshi never gave his system
13786-569: Was a ladies' man, [but Van Damme] appeals to both men and women. He's an American hero who fights for justice the American way and kicks the stuffing out of the bad guys." In reality, Van Damme had begged for a starring role; at the point of casting, he was homeless, sleeping in cars and garages, and sometimes had to resort to stealing food to survive. Also in 1988, he played another Russian villain in Black Eagle , opposite Sho Kosugi . After
13908-471: Was believed to have only been a publicity stunt. Universal Soldier opened in theatres on 10 July 1992, a moderate success domestically with $ 36,299,898 in US ticket sales, but a major blockbuster worldwide, making over $ 65 million overseas, which earned the film a total of $ 102 million worldwide, on a $ 23 million budget. He was considered to play Simon Phoenix in Demolition Man and
14030-654: Was briefly considered for the role of Michael Cheritto in Heat . In 1993, he made a cameo in Last Action Hero , and starred in Nowhere To Run . The film was the first in a three-picture deal between Van Damme and Columbia Pictures and his fee was $ 3.5 million. Columbia said the film is "true to his audience and goes beyond his audience." In 1994, he starred in Hard Target for Universal Pictures ,
14152-399: Was crazy. He said, 'What the hell are you doing? You have the best gym in Brussels. You have a sports car, a beautiful apartment, you’re making so much money that you can have anything you want — and now you’re going to sell your business and go to America'. He was very upset". In 1982, he and childhood friend Michel Qissi moved to the United States in the hope of working as actors. They did
14274-699: Was developed in the context of the Korean War in the 1950s. The later 1960s and 1970s witnessed an increased media interest in Chinese martial arts , influenced by martial artist Bruce Lee . Bruce Lee is credited as one of the first instructors to openly teach Chinese martial arts to Westerners. World Judo Championships have been held since 1956, Judo at the Summer Olympics was introduced in 1964. Karate World Championships were introduced in 1970. The " kung fu wave " of Hong Kong action cinema in
14396-580: Was highly successful, returning over $ 50 million on a $ 3-million budget. The film started the Kickboxer franchise . He did not appear in any of the film's four sequels, though he did return as a different character in the reboot series. In 1990, he starred in Death Warrant , the first script credit for David S. Goyer . Also that year he starred in Lionheart . Lionheart was directed by Sheldon Lettich who had co-written Bloodsport , and said
14518-508: Was kicked in the nose and was unable to continue as a result. In a 2013 interview, Van Damme called this fight his most memorable match. He began his full-contact career in 1977, when Claude Goetz promoted the first ever full-contact karate tournament in Belgium. From 1977 to 1982, he compiled a record of 18 victories (18 knockouts) and one defeat. In 1979, he had an uncredited role in André Delvaux 's Woman Between Wolf and Dog ,
14640-403: Was released. Directed by Lettich, it features Van Damme in the dual role of Alex and Chad Wagner, estranged twin brothers fighting to avenge the deaths of their parents. Upon its opening it received mixed reviews. The Los Angeles Times said the film "delivers the goods", while Variety didn't like the plotline and predicted a flop. The film grossed $ 23,683,813 in its first 28 days. It made
14762-540: Was shot on a $ 1.5-million budget for Cannon. The film is about U.S. Army Captain Frank Dux (played by Van Damme), trained from his youth in the ways of ninjutsu by Senzo Tanaka, who takes the place of Tanaka's deceased son Shingo in the illegal martial-arts tournament Kumite in Hong Kong . It became a U.S. box-office hit in the spring of 1988. Producer Mark Di Salle said he was looking for "a new martial arts star who
14884-522: Was the first man known to have taught Asian martial arts in Europe. He also founded an eclectic style named Bartitsu which combined jujutsu, judo, wrestling, boxing, savate and stick fighting . Fencing and Greco-Roman wrestling was included in the 1896 Summer Olympics . FILA Wrestling World Championships and Boxing at the Summer Olympics were introduced in 1904. The tradition of awarding championship belts in wrestling and boxing can be traced to
#456543